No postgraduate classes in colleges

The last decade, most of Rawalpindi’s graduate colleges have not been able to start post-graduate classes so that students either have to enrol in private institutions or appear in exams privately.

Post graduate colleges are only available in two boys’ colleges- Government Asghar Mall College and Government Gordon College- and three girls’ colleges including Government Post Graduate College 6th Road Satellite Town, Federal Government Post Graduate College Kashmir Road and Viqarun Nisa College.

The previous Punjab government had claimed they will upgrade local colleges to post-graduate level but not one college has been upgraded the last five years.

The Government Gordon College offers only MA English classes, which were introduced when it was missionary school. It has not started new classes since it was nationalised in 1972.

Government Asghar Mall College offers masters in Economics, Mathematics, English, Urdu and Geography only.

A private student, Mohammad Waqar said he wanted to continue his studies but could not appear in his MA English exams as a private candidate due to financial constraints.

Another student, Ahmed Raja said he wanted to get admission in MA Economics but he did not get the required marks for private institutions so he appeared in B.Sc exams for statistics, mathematics and economics to improve his grade.

“If my own college had private graduate classes, I would have gotten admission easily and completed my studies without having to waste a year,” he said.

Rawalpindi Director Colleges Jehanzeb Khan said the provincial government is working on upgrading colleges to post-graduate level by 2020.

He said the government will be offering more facilities in colleges.

Asked about appointing good teachers in post-graduate courses, he said the government will recruit teachers and lecturers when it will start the post-graduate classes.

Institutions asked to install solar panels

The Fatima Jinnah Women University’s (FJWU) Department of Environmental Sciences conducted a competition titled Sohni Dharti.

The slogan of the event was ‘From Advocacy to Action’ and was aimed at persuading institutions to install solar panels and start using other safe modes of energy.

The Sohni Dharti Climate Change Campaign is aimed at getting schools, colleges and universities to switch to solar energy.

Various teams presented their models and a panel discussion was conducted on energy conservation and use of renewable energy sources. Solar panel investments and planning were also discussed.

Many experts and entrepreneurs made suggestions and various universities from across the twin cities participated in the event. Cash prizes were distributed among the winners.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2018